Signal light for vehicles



Feb. 23,1926.

P. KOROKNAY SIGNAL LIGHT FOR VEHICLES Filed Oct. 26, 1325 TUxNTO gwwznto o Patented Feb. 23, 1926.

PAT

. i OFFICE.

PAUL xoBoKNAY, or noos'ron, TEXAS.

SIGNAL LIGHT FOR VEHICLES.

Application filed October 26, 1925. Serial No. 64,849.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL KoRoKNaY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, Harris County, Texas, have invented a certain new ,and useful Improvement in Si nal Lights for Vehicles, of which the fo lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to signal lights-to be placed upon vehicles to indicate to other drivers of vehicles the direction of movement of the vehicle upon which it is placed.

The object of the invention is to so form and construct the housing for the light, that it can be made cheaply, and quickly assembled, so that the lantern may be supplied to the trade at rates much cheaper than'the ordinary lantern. It is contemplated that a lantern constructed in accordance with this invention can be supplied in quantities at prices easily within the reach of all car owners.

The invention consists in the form and arrangement of the parts making up the structure of my device which. will be set forth with particularity in the specification which follows.

Referring to the drawing herewith, Fig.

1 is a front elevation of the lantern. Fig:

2 is a horizontal section on the plane 2-2 of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section on the plane 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the plane 44 of F g.

3. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the top or bottom plate forming a part of the mvention. Like numerals of reference designate like parts in all the views. I

In forming my device so that It may be constructed and assembled cheaply, I employ a back plate 1, which may be cast from any suitable metal in one piece. Said plate is rectangular in shape with a laterally extending bracket 2, integral therewith. The plate has a plurality of circular openings 3 therein, the margins of which have flanges 4 and 5 directed forwardly and rearwardly respectively, thus forming sockets 7 to receive lights 6, as shown in Flg. 2. I have shown two' such sockets, but obviously any desired number may be used. The bracket 2 is a lateral extension, centrally of the late 1. It is formed with two forward osses 8 to receive a flattened arm of a vehicle bracket, not shown. A central openbent end receive screws 26, threaded into ing 9 therein may receive a screw or bolt for attaching the bracket to its support.

There is a smaller clamping plate 10,

It is narrower than plate 1. The central portion 11 fits between the two adjacent light sockets and the upper and lower arms 12 fit on each side thereof. There is a transverse groove formed on the forward face of the clamping plate by casting thereon a series of opposed projections or posts 13. A central opening 14 in the plate is adapted to receive a set screw 15 which extends through a corresponding opening in the plate 1 and serves to clamp the plates toward-each other.

The two plates 1 andlO furnish the support to which the lantern housing of thin sheet metal is detachably clamped. The housing comprises side plates 16, which, as shown in Fig. 3, are skeleton plates, wider at their forward ends than at their rearward sides, Where they are curved laterally at 18 to fit beneath the clamping plate 10.

Except centrally, adjacent the central portion 11 of the plate, the inner edge, of the side plates are recurved at 19 to engage behind the arms 12 of the .clamping'plate, and thus be held in position.

As seen in Fig. 2, the forward edgesrof the side plates 16 are bent inwardly at 20 a short distance, to receive the glass slides 22 and then curved back parallel with the plate at 21 to form flangesupon which the cover may engage. The top and bottom edges are bent outwardly to form flanges 28 to engage the top and bottom plates.

'The top and bottom plates 23 are also wider at their forward than at their rear ends. This shape is best shown in Fig. 5. The said plates are imperforate andi have the rear ends 24 bent inwardly to fit around the ends of the plate 1. Openings 25 in the the said plate 1. The lateral edges of the plates 23 are bent inwardly to form channels or troughs 27 to slide over the flanges 28 of the side plates, as shown in Fig. 4.

The forward side'of the lantern is closed by a vertically sliding plate or door 29. Said plate is a skeleton plate having upper and lower openings 30 therein for transparent walls of lass 31 or other similar material. The ski edges of the door are curved inwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, to form a channel 32 to receive the plate 31 of glass and are then bent away from the plate and recurved at 33 to form guides to receive the flanges 21 of the side plates 16. I

There are as many chambers within the lantern as there are lights and I have shown two. These chambers are separated by a horizontal partition 34 of sheet metal, shaped to fit between the side Walls of the chamber. Its inner end fits within the groove formed by the posts 13. Its outer side fits between the upper and lower transparent window plates 31 of the cover. The lower of said window plates is therefore adapted to be inserted after the cover is in position.

The upper end of the cover plate is bent inwardly to form a shoulder 35 to limit the. downward movement of the cover. It may be then extended upwardly to form a display member 36 upon which the words Turn to or other similar words may be written. The transparent windows in the side and forward plates may have direction legends thereon to indicate, when illuminated, the direction in which the vehicle'is to'progress. It will be understood from the preceding description how the lantern is assembled. It is contemplated that the parts may be formed in quantities and that'similar parts are in- .terchangeable. The two side plates 16 are secured to the back plate 1 by means'of the clamping plate 10. To thus clamp the sides, it will only be necessary to adjust the screw.

One pane of glass for each side is then inserted. The top and bottom plates are easily and quickly introduced over the flanges 28 of the side plates because of the tapered 40 shape of the'top and bottom plates. The screws 26 may then be employed to secure them in place. The top plate is put in place and the middle partition is then inserted; and the cover 29is slid down along the flanges 21 of the sides, the lower glass plate 31 being placed in position after the cover is on. The bottom plate is then secured'in position and the lantern is ready for use, it being understood that the lights are connected in the sockets 7 of the plate 1. w

The lantern is light in construction and may be mounted upon a plate fitting between the bosses 8 of the bracket 2 and secured against removal by the use of one set screw 5 in the opening 9.

It will be noted that the lantern is constructed entirely with the idea of economyi and convenience of assembly. The materia is resilient and the parts engage each other 0 so that no rattle or vibration will occur.

I Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: 1. In a signal lantern, a housing comprising a back plate having light-receiving sockets therein, top and bottom plates of sheet metal, the rear ends of which are bent inwardly and secured to the rear face' of said back plate,-side plates, the rearedges of which are bent inwardly against the forward face of said back plate, or clamping plate, adapted to tit over the bent edges of said side plates,"means to clamp said clamping plates to said back plate, means connecting the side plates with the top and bottom plates at their adjacent edges, a front cover plate and means on said cover plate and said side plates whereby said plates may slidably engage.

:3. In a signal lantern, a light-supporting housing comprising a back plate of cast metal having light-receiving sockets therein, top and bottom walls, detachable means to secure said walls to the rear side of said back plate, the side edges of said walls being bent inwardly to form slideways, opposite side plates, means clamping the rear edges thereof to the forward side of said back plate, means engaging said top and bottom plates with said slideways, a cover plate slidable on said side plates, transparent walls in said side and cover plates, and a central partition positioned between said clampingmeans and said cover plate and contacting therewith at its ends.

3. In a signal lantern, a light-supporting housing, the walls of which are detachably connected together comprising a back plate of metal having light supporting sockets therein, side walls and top and bottom walls, means slidably connecting said side Walls with said top and bottom walls, means clamping certain of said walls to said back plate, a cover plate, means thereon slidably engaging with cooperating means on said. side walls, transparent panes in said side and coverplates and a removable partition wall in said housing. 7

4. In a signal lanternfa back plate having light-receiving sockets therein, opposite side walls, a clamping plate having oppositely extending arms thereon to enga e and clamp said side walls to said back p ate, top and bottom walls, means slidably engaging the latter with said-side walls, a central partition supported at its inner end on said clamping plate, a cover plateclosing the forward side of said lantern and means securing said cover plate to said side walls.

5. A signal lantern comprising a housing including a back plate having light-receiving sockets therein, opposite interchangeable side walls, means to clampsaid side walls to said back plate, opposite interchangeable top and bottom walls, cooperating means on said walls slidably connecting them together at their adjacent edges, a cover plate, means slidably engaging said cover plate wit-h said side walls, a partition wall and separate means on said clamping means and on said no cover plate removably supporting said parclamp said clamping plate to said back plate, 10 tition. 7 top and bottom walls, means slidablyengag 6. A lantern housing including a back ing the latter with said sidewalls, a cover plate having light-supporting sockets thereplate, and a lateral bracket integral With 5 in, opposite side walls flaring forwardly and said back plate for the purpose described.

having their rear edges bent inwardly, a In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my 15 clamping plate shaped 'to fit about said signature this 21st day of October, A. D. sockets, forming arms on said clamping plate 1925.

to engage with said side plates, means to PAUL KOROKNAY.- 

